Fact Sheet

Lead Poisoning
What is Lead Poisoning?
Lead is a toxic metal used in a variety of products and materials, including paint, pipes, leaded crystal,
dishware, and pottery coatings. When lead is absorbed into the body, it can cause serious damage to vital
organs like the brain, kidneys, nerves, and blood cells. Lead poisoning is especially harmful to children under
the age of six years.
Exposure
Lead hazards can be found in several places inside and outside of the home, including:
Paint: Lead-based paint, most often found on the exterior and interior of homes built
before 1978, is the most common source of lead poisoning in U.S. children. The paint
becomes unsafe when it peels, chips, cracks, or is damaged or disturbed by
renovation. Since babies and young children often put their hands and other objects
in their mouths, they are likely to swallow lead dust or chew paint chips.
Lead Dust: This harmful, invisible dust is created during renovation and when
windows, doors, edges of stairs, rails, or other surfaces with lead-based paint wear
down from repeated friction, such as opening or closing windows or doors. Lead dust
can spread throughout a home when walls or other painted surfaces are sanded,
scraped, or torn down. Ideally, trained professionals should safely remove old
paint surfaces in a home. Children are most often
Soil: Soil surrounding homes may be contaminated from chipping or flaking poisoned by consuming
exterior lead-based paint. While playing outside, especially on bare soil, lead dust through normal
children can accidentally swallow the contaminated soil. Soil can also be hand-to-mouth activity.
tracked indoors on carpets and floors where children can come into contact Pregnant women who
with it. breathe in high levels of
Drinking Water: Lead pipes placed in homes before 1950 are likely to contain lead dust can transmit
lead, which is released into drinking water as it passes through the old pipes lead to their unborn
and fixtures. children, causing serious
damage.
Food: Lead can seep into food or drinks that are stored in imported ceramic
dishes or pottery.
Workplace Exposure: People who work in lead-related industries (painting and coatings, welding,
automotive, or recycling industries) or use lead for hobbies (stained glass windows) may bring lead into the
home.
Folk Medicine: Lead and other heavy metals are put into certain folk medicines because these metals are
thought to be useful in treating some ailments. Sometimes lead accidentally gets into the folk medicine
during grinding, during coloring, or from the package.
Cosmetics: Traditional cosmetics imported from countries that do not test for lead.

Health Effects
Lead interferes with the development and functioning of almost all body organs, particularly the kidneys, red
blood cells, and central nervous system. Lead poisoning is much more serious when children are exposed to
lead.

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Since children’s bodies are not fully developed, lead poisoning can cause:
 Brain, liver, and kidney damage  Lowered intellect or (IQ)
 Slowed development  Hearing loss
 Learning or behavior problems  Restlessness
Signs and Symptoms
Most children with lead poisoning do not show any outward symptoms unless blood-lead levels become
extremely high: consequently, many cases of children with lead poisoning go undiagnosed and untreated.
However, some symptoms of poisoning include:
 Headaches
Topic Specific Resources and Information
 Stomach aches
EPA links to local water quality data www.epa.gov/ccr
 Nausea MDHHS Keep Michigan Healthy – Lead www.michigan.gov/mdhhs
 Tiredness SCCHD Fact Sheet: Lead Poisoning www.scchealth.co
 Irritability or change in behavior Environmental Protection Agency www.epa.gov/lead
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov
Diagnosis
The only way to detect lead poisoning is by performing a simple blood test. All children under the age of six
should have their blood-lead levels tested. Testing is available at a pediatrician’s office or the health
department. Call (810) 987-5300 to schedule an appointment.

Prevention
Since treatment options for lead poisoning are limited, it is best to prevent lead poisoning before it has a
chance to occur. Lead poisoning is preventable with proper:
Nutrition: Serve children foods with a high content of iron (eggs, cooked beans, or red meats), calcium
(cheese, yogurt, or cooked greens), and vitamin C (citrus fruits, green peppers, or tomatoes). Adequate intake
of these nutrients minimizes lead absorption in children’s bodies.
Cooking and Drinking Water: If you live in an older home (plumbing installed before 1950), flush your water
system by running the kitchen tap (or any other tap you take drinking or cooking water from) on COLD for 1–
2 minutes before using the water for cooking or drinking and/or until your water test results indicate your
water is lead free or safe. Contact the health department (810) 987-5300 or your local water treatment
plant to find out how to get your water tested for lead.
Housekeeping: Teach and practice healthy home habits, such as hand-washing before eating and sleeping,
shoe removal, washing children’s toys or other chewable surfaces, purchasing lead-free mini-blinds, and wet
mopping and drying floors and surfaces.
Personal Care: Wash hands, especially before eating and sleeping.
Home Renovation/Repair/Replacement/Repainting: Hire a certified professional to safely remove lead
sources from a home. Contractors are EPA trained and certified RRPC (Renovation, Repair, and Painting
Certification) and make sure children and pregnant women do not stay inside a home when renovations are
underway.

For more sources of information on this topic visit:

ST. CLAIR COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT www.scchealth.co

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